Brier,G.and Hall,M. (2007). From Frustrating Forgetfulness to Fabulous Forethought. The Science Teacher. 24-27.
This journal article examines neuroscience research and offers educational strategies for science teachers to facilitate adolescent learning experiences. This article focuses on possible reasons why teenagers have diffuculty focusing and paying attention. Research has shown that a neural transformation takes place during the teen years and some structures of the brain are affected. The first is the prefrontal cortex, which affects cognitive abilities. Some of these cognitive abilities that may be affected are alertness, attention, and regulating appropriate social behavior and this may be why students forget to do homework and are unorganized. Another structure that is transformed during the teenage years is the cerebellum, which controls balance and motor coordination. The third structure that is affected is the limbic cortex, which is involved in emotion, attention, and memory. The article suggets that teens are still developing efficient neurological connections to fine-tune their emotions.
With this evidence of adolescent neural development, educational strategies are suggested to enhance learning experiences. This artcile addresses adolescent cognitive and emotional issues. Some strategies when addressing cognitive issues include but are not limited to, maintaining firm due dates, keeping a record or daily activities and assignments in the classroom, providing unit organizers, assigning specific note taking and lab organization. Some strategies suggested when addressing emotional issues are providing choices, demonstrating emotional neutrality, breaking down large assignments into smaller ones, focusing on the positive, holding mini-conferences with students, and varying instruction.
I selected this journal article because it gives explaination of what we all want to know, what is going through teen's minds. As educators I think that it is important to further our understanding of adolescents to be more effective as teachers. Repetetive reminders to students in various forms may help them to be more organized and to stay on task. I think that its important to engage students on an emotional level because they too have many things going on in their lives that it is important to help them to focus. I found this article interesting because you always hear about "teen's and their raging hormones" and now we have a different explaination for their actions. I was intrigued by the suggestions that were made for engaging students on conitive and emotional levels. The explanations that followed the suggestions reinforced why it is important to pay attention to little things that may make adolescents learning experiences more enoyable, as well as teaching more rewarding.
This journal article examines neuroscience research and offers educational strategies for science teachers to facilitate adolescent learning experiences. This article focuses on possible reasons why teenagers have diffuculty focusing and paying attention. Research has shown that a neural transformation takes place during the teen years and some structures of the brain are affected. The first is the prefrontal cortex, which affects cognitive abilities. Some of these cognitive abilities that may be affected are alertness, attention, and regulating appropriate social behavior and this may be why students forget to do homework and are unorganized. Another structure that is transformed during the teenage years is the cerebellum, which controls balance and motor coordination. The third structure that is affected is the limbic cortex, which is involved in emotion, attention, and memory. The article suggets that teens are still developing efficient neurological connections to fine-tune their emotions.
With this evidence of adolescent neural development, educational strategies are suggested to enhance learning experiences. This artcile addresses adolescent cognitive and emotional issues. Some strategies when addressing cognitive issues include but are not limited to, maintaining firm due dates, keeping a record or daily activities and assignments in the classroom, providing unit organizers, assigning specific note taking and lab organization. Some strategies suggested when addressing emotional issues are providing choices, demonstrating emotional neutrality, breaking down large assignments into smaller ones, focusing on the positive, holding mini-conferences with students, and varying instruction.
I selected this journal article because it gives explaination of what we all want to know, what is going through teen's minds. As educators I think that it is important to further our understanding of adolescents to be more effective as teachers. Repetetive reminders to students in various forms may help them to be more organized and to stay on task. I think that its important to engage students on an emotional level because they too have many things going on in their lives that it is important to help them to focus. I found this article interesting because you always hear about "teen's and their raging hormones" and now we have a different explaination for their actions. I was intrigued by the suggestions that were made for engaging students on conitive and emotional levels. The explanations that followed the suggestions reinforced why it is important to pay attention to little things that may make adolescents learning experiences more enoyable, as well as teaching more rewarding.
Talia D
From Frustrating Forgetfulness to Fabulous Forethought